Heather J Zar is a South African physician and scientist specialising in the care of

children A child ( : children) is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The legal definition of ''child'' generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger ...

with

respiratory diseases Respiratory diseases, or lung diseases, are pathological conditions affecting the organs and tissues that make gas exchange difficult in air-breathing animals. They include conditions of the respiratory tract including the trachea, bronchi, br ...

asthma Asthma is a long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wheezing, cou ...

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by '' Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in ...

and

pneumonia Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severity ...

Career and impact

Professor Zar is the Chair of the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health at the

University of Cape Town The University of Cape Town (UCT) ( af, Universiteit van Kaapstad, xh, Yunibesithi ya yaseKapa) is a public research university in Cape Town, South Africa. Established in 1829 as the South African College, it was granted full university statu ...

and also serves as the President of the Pan African Thoracic Society. Her work on HIV/AIDS related lung disease has helped to change

World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution states its main objective as "the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of h ...

and national guidelines. Work on using low cost recycled plastic bottles as spacers, to help children more easily inhale aerosolized asthma medication, has garnered Zar global attention. Zar is one of the leaders of a

study Study or studies may refer to: General * Education **Higher education * Clinical trial * Experiment * Observational study * Research * Study skills, abilities and approaches applied to learning Other * Study (art), a drawing or series of drawi ...

of about 1000 children that are being closely followed up over time to better understand and develop preventive strategies to address childhood lung disease and other ailments. She is a member of the

Academy of Science of South Africa The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) is the national science academy in South Africa. It was started in 1996, and encompasses all fields of scientific work. Its legal foundation is the ''Academy of Science of South Africa Act'', Act 67 ...

. Professor Zar has published over 200 scientific articles.

Awards and honors

* American Thoracic Society World Lung Health Award 2014 *

L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards The L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards, created in 1998, aim to improve the position of women in science by recognizing outstanding women researchers who have contributed to scientific progress. The awards are a result of a partnersh ...

in 2018

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Zar, Heather South African women scientists Living people University of the Witwatersrand alumni South African paediatricians Women pediatricians Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons alumni University of Cape Town alumni Academic staff of the University of Cape Town L'Oréal-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science laureates Year of birth missing (living people) Members of the Academy of Science of South Africa